EZIOMA ASONYE (Ama) is a fresh graduate of The New School for Drama’s MFA Acting program in NYC. She has appeared in Human Again (Auburn Public Theater); A Midsummer Night's Dream (Ovalhouse Theater, London); Plain Brown Box, Nine Folds Make a Paper Swan, A & Z’s Escapades in Moonstruck City, Henry IV Part 1 (The New School), and others. As a first-generation Nigerian American, she is elated to be a part of this beautiful and impactful play.

CANDACE BOAHENE (Mercy) is a Ghanaian American actor originally from Brooklyn, New York and raised in Columbus, Ohio. Candace is thrilled to be making her Pittsburgh Public Theater debut in Jocelyn Bioh’s School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play. Select New York credits include Romeo and Juliet (Classical Theatre of Harlem); In the Red and Brown Water; A Streetcar Named Desire; Mister Paradise; and The Escape, or a Leap for Freedom (Columbia University). Select Off-Broadway credit: Water (The Tank NYC). She received her BA in Journalism from Michigan State University and an MFA in Theatre from Columbia University. Instagram: @actress_candy. Gye Nyame. Isaiah 40:31.

MELESSIE CLARK (Risa) - Melessie Clark is thrilled to be returning to the Public! A Pittsburgh native, she was recently seen in City Theatre's An Untitled New Play by Justin Timberlake, Pittsburgh CLO's The Wizard of Oz and Quantum Theatre's The Current War. Catch Melessie in Goddess at Berkeley Repertory this summer!

ATIAUNA GRANT (Nana) is excited to be making her Pittsburgh Public debut with this stellar cast and creative team. Theatre includes: Jesus Christ Superstar (The MUNY), My Shining Hour (AEA 29 Hour Reading), Foxy (Feinstein’s 54 Below). 54 Below Sings Concert Series (Feinstein’s 54 Below). Training: BFA Point Park University. Proud member of AEA.

SHINNERRIE JACKSON (Headmistress Francis) last appeared at Pittsburgh Public Theater in Electra as part of the Female Chorus. She is very happy to be back! She has enjoyed a great career in the regional theater circuit in roles such as Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill; Cassandra in Vanya, Sasha, Masha and Spike; and Ain’t I a Woman: a one woman show about the heroines of African American history. She has been seen on “30 Rock” and in Whit Stillman’s Damsels in Distress. Shinnerrie earned her Bachelors of Music at Oberlin Conservatory and her MFA at The University of Tennessee.

AIDAA PEERZADA (Ericka Boafo) Aidaa grateful to be part of this production of School Girls. Her regional credits include Pride and Prejudice (Elizabeth), Cesar (Calpurnia), As You Like It (Amiens) at The Illinois Shakespeare Festival. The Liar (Lucrece), The Merchant of Venice ( Jessica ), and Othello (Bianca) at The Utah Shakespeare Festival. Between Riverside and Crazy (Lulu U/S) and BLKS (Rye U/S) at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. The Merry Wives of Windsor (Anne Page) and Pride and Prejudice (Kitty Bennett) at The American Players Theatre. The Golden Dragon (Young Woman) at Quantum Theatre. Her TV/Film credits include the HBO series "GIRLS", the web series "Blank My Life", and the film Gorenos. She is a member of The San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company where her original play One Googol and One was produced last year. She is a proud graduate of The Carnegie Mellon School of Drama and The Baltimore School for the Arts.  

MARKIA NICOLE SMITH (Paulina Sarpong) is thrilled to be making her Pittsburgh Public debut alongside this brilliant team of creatives. Theater credits include: The Abduction Musical (New York Musical Festival), Avenue Q and We Will Rock You (Pittsburgh Musical Theater); and Hairspray (Meyerhoff Symphony). Training: Baltimore School for the Arts, BFA from Point Park University.

SHAKARA WRIGHT (Gifty) is a multidisciplinary Pittsburgh artist. She recently closed a performance of The Sunday God Gave Me at the New Hazlett Theater, written by Pittsburgh playwright Kim El and directed by Rita Gregory. Shakara has studied theater for many years; graduated from CAPA 6-12 with a major of Musical Theater, and obtained a BA in Acting from Point Park University. Wright is the second-place winner of the Pittsburgh August Wilson Monologue competition in 2012, the competition that gave her the opportunity to study Acting at Point Park. She is a founding member of Alumni Theater Company (ATC) and a current member of the professional ensemble. Shakara discovered her talent and love for playwriting at ATC where three of her plays have been produced: The Black Ties in 2009, Affection in 2014, and Pain Killer in 2018. Shakara also directed two of her plays’ productions including Pain Killer, which was the opening production at ATC’s theater. Some of the other roles she’s played include Marianna/Sudabey from Passing Strange, Lucy the Slut/Mrs.Thistletwat/Bad Idea Bear from Avenue Q, and Yellow Brick Road from The Wiz. Wright’s deepest hope is to continue to create performance art that focuses on finding the humanity in society, teaching us how to love ourselves and others better, and giving a voice to those who aren’t given the opportunity to speak for themselves.